I’m Every Voter

As we have noted, the Republican Convention tends to lean toward country music. There are exceptions, though, and one of the most interesting came eight years ago when the R. & B. star Chaka Khan capped off the nomination of George W. Bush, in Philadelphia. In an interview last year with Reuters, she discussed that decision:

Q: Let’s get political briefly. In 2000, you sang at the Republican National Convention.

A: I’m trying to forget that.

Q: That was my question. In the intervening years, a lot of people have become disillusioned with the president the candidate and ultimately the president that emerged.

A: Does that answer your question? I did it for my foundation for autism education. I did it to bring some attention to that.

Q: Did it at least do that?

A: Possibly. It might have done more damage than good, for me anyway, for my spirit..

Here she is performing “I Feel For You,” her hit from the height of the Reagan era.

John Donohue, an artist based in Brooklyn, is the editor of the anthology “Man with a Pan: Culinary Adventures of Fathers Who Cook for Their Families.”